SoftBank-Owned Graphcore to Announce $1.3 Billion Chip Investment in India

Graphcore, the British semiconductor designer owned by SoftBank Group Corp., is preparing to announce a £1 billion (approximately $1.3 billion) investment package in India that includes the establishment of a new research and development hub.

According to people familiar with the matter, the announcement will take place during UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to India this week, where he is leading a delegation of major British businesses. Graphcore will be part of that business delegation.

The Bristol-based chipmaker plans to open its new research facility in Bengaluru, India’s technology capital, and aims to hire up to 500 employees over the next five years, one of the sources said, requesting anonymity because the discussions are private.

Graphcore specializes in designing AI and high-performance computing chips, a rapidly expanding sector driven by global demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Analysts say the investment underscores India’s growing importance as a global hub for semiconductor research and AI innovation. The move is expected to strengthen India’s position in the global chip supply chain while giving Graphcore a key foothold in one of the world’s fastest-growing tech markets.